Episode 69 - Growing Up

It might have been a nightmare build-up, but Macca is living every surfski paddler's dream this week... at the 2025 Gorge Downwind Championships!The festival of paddling has once again pulled in downwind-lovers from all corners of the globe, yet somehow we've dragged Mac away from the craft beer tent and in front of the microphone for an overdue catch-up.The boys preview the great race, bow down to two surfski icons and put the call out to the world... is this the biggest wave ever caught?This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by the 2025 ICF Ocean Racing World Championships, to be held in Durban, South Africa, in October!

It's like the script out of a Hollywood movie.A boys who grows up watching the sport's greats at Molokai becomes just like them, winning the iconic race - and he's the first local to do so since 1978.Pat Dolan is front-and-centre on this episode of The Paddler's Pod, as Sam & Macca talk through his thrilling victory, as well as the brilliance of Danielle Richards.Dean Gardiner pays his tributes, too, in a wide-ranging - and no-holds-barred - discussion about the state of surfski.This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

Well, I guess this is growing up.Macca has some HUGE news to share on this latest episode of The Paddler's Pod, seeing the boys get a little bit reflective. But not for long... the surfski world has roared to life for 2025!The South African national championships, the EuroChallenge and even the Talle10, Sam & Macca are back to cover the lot.This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

Sam & Macca are back underneath their surf club tents like it's 2010!The dust has settled on the Australian Surf Life Saving Championships, and the boys are back to sweep it all up.There's also a look towards the South African national titles... and yes... Macca explains how he was beaten up the beach!This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

Happy New Year!.. we can still say that, right?The Paddler's Pod is back for its first recording of 2025, and it's brought Sam & Macca back together!Laying out on Mac's new lounge, the boys chat through the racing that's already unfolded this year, an INSANE close-call with a whale, and they give away another Vaikobi voucher with Talkback Radio!

Welcome to The Paddler's Pod for 2025! And to begin... we're going back to 2024. This recap of the Shaw and Partners WA Race Week was recorded in early December... and now, two months later... it has finally been edited. Sam & Macca take a look at the results and the event itself, while casting an eye forward to predict where its future might lie. We're back in the recording studio this week! So the next episode won't be too far away.

It's Animal Month in the surfski world! And the world's best paddlers are racing like them, too. Nicky Notten and Jade Wilson fly through the water to win South Africa's iconic Pete Marlin, while over in Hong Kong, Cory Hill and Kira Bester have taken flight, claiming the Dragon Run. There's a new absurd race that's caught Sam's eye, and another chance to win big. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

The racing season has launched into overdrive, and we're desperately trying to hang on for the ride! On this episode of The Paddler's Pod, Sam & Macca go through all of the big talking points after 20 Beaches, celebrate the brilliant Jemma Smith and her Coolangatta Gold win, as well as doing a little bit of celebrity spotting. The episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

All rise! Because two new ICF World Champions have been crowned. Macca is back from Madeira... Sam has recovered from pneumonia... so The Paddler's Pod can re-live all of the action, and all of the results, from the 2024 ICF World Championships. The boys also shine the spotlight on their standouts who didn't make the podium in this comprehensive review. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!

It's not *too* often we stray from the surfski scene, but with racing like this, we had to make an exception. The World Life Saving Titles, the Canoe Marathon World Championships... AND... our very own Ocean Racing Titles. It's all happening! And no, we haven't forgotten... Talkback Radio is back, and someone is about to win a Vaikobi Voucher. This episode of The Paddler's Pod is powered by Vaikobi!